100 Percentile in CAT Exam; Know What 100 Percentile Means?
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 12 Nov '25
CAT score of 100 percentile is an ideal score but tough to achieve. On an average, only about 9-11 candidates score 100 percentile in CAT exam, out of over lakh test takers. So what does CAT 100 percentile mean? Read here.
100 percentile in CAT
100 percentile in CAT is a dream score. And it is not difficult to understand why. CAT 100 percentile means that you are not only eligible for the top IIMs, you are in a position to choose from the best MBA colleges – IIMs as well non-IIMs.
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But what does 100 percentile in CAT mean? It means that a candidate has performed better than all of the other test takers (2. 50 lakh+). To explain further, it is a representation of the relative performance of a CAT candidate compared to other test takers. Similarly, if a candidate gets 99.99 percentile in CAT exam, then their performance is better than 99.99 percent candidates.
Sectional cut-off in the CAT exam refers to the section-wise percentiles required by the candidate to make it to the Personal Interview round of the IIMs or other top MBA colleges. The sectional cut-offs are lower than the overall cut-offs of any institute. To understand better, check the table below for sectional CAT cut-offs for IIM Ahmedabad:
Category | VARC percentile | DILR percentile | QA percentile | Overall percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
NC-OBC-Transgender | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
SC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
PwD (General, NC-OBC-cum-transgender, SC) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
PwD (ST) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
For sectional cut-offs of all IIMs, check this article – IIM shortlist and selection criteria
Yes, it is possible to score 99.99 percentile in CAT in first attempt. Many candidates have scored 99.99 percentile in their first attempt in previously. But for that one needs to have a preparation strategy which is comprehensive and covers all the aspects of CAT. Apart from covering CAT syllabus through books and sample papers, one need constant guidance and study sessions with mentors and subject matter experts to develop deep understanding and capability to crack any type of question.
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- What CAT percentile means? How to calculate?
- How Many Candidates get 100 percentile in CAT?
- 100 Percentile in CAT Exam: Admission Chances
- Expected CAT Cut Offs 2024
What CAT percentile means? How to calculate?
To calculate every test taker’s CAT percentile, the examination authority, applies a formula. The CAT percentile of every candidate is calculated from their raw score. First of all, the raw scores of test takers across each session of the CAT exam are normalized to bring them on a common scale. The raw scores of the exam are then converted into percentile on the basis of the following formula:
P = (R/N) × 100
where,
P= Percentile score
R= Rank of the candidate arrived at on the basis of scaled CAT score or the total number of test takers ranking below a particular candidate.
N= Number of candidates who appeared in CAT exam (all three sessions)
Suppose, 1,000 people take CAT and once candidate scored 196 out of 198 (scaled score) and the rest 999 scored below 196. Then the CAT percentile of the candidate who got the highest raw score will be 999/1000*100 = 99.9.
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CAT cut-offs are not announced along with the CAT result. The cut-offs are also not released publicly. They are known after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs will open the shortlist window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.
How Many Candidates get 100 percentile in CAT?
On an average, about 9-11 candidates score 100 percentile in CAT every year. Most of the CAT 100 percentilers are from engineering background. Check here some data points:
- In CAT 2024, the total number of 100 percentilers in 14, out of which 13 are from engineering background.
- In CAT 2023, the total number of 100 percentilers was 14, out of which 11 were from engineering background.
- In CAT 2022, a total of 11 candidates got 100 percentile, out of which 10 were from engineering background and 1 was from non-engineering background
- In CAT 2021, a total of 9 candidates scored 100 percentile and all were from engineering background.
- In CAT 2020 as well, 9 candidates had scored 100 percentile. Out of 9, only 1 candidate was from non-engineering background.
- In CAT 2019, the number of 100 percentilers was 10. All candidates were males and belong to engineering or technical background.
- In CAT 2018, the total number of CAT 100 percentilers was 11. All the 11 toppers are from engineering and technical backgrounds.
Also Read:
100 Percentile in CAT Exam: Admission Chances
Candidates who score 100 percentile in CAT exam definitely get interview calls from the top IIMs – IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta. 100 percentile is the highest CAT cut offs for PI shortlisting for these IIMs, for General category students.
If CAT 100 percentilers have a good academic record and they perform well in the WAT-PI rounds, are sure to get the final call for admission. Candidates having 100 percentile can not only get the top IIMs but they can actually get any B-school they wish. Being the top rankers with a good profile, every B-Schools will be willing to accept their candidature happily.
Does CAT 100 percentile help in admission to foreign universities?
No, candidates will 100 percentile in CAT cannot apply to foreign universities as the exam score is not accepted internationally. CAT is a national level exam and accepted by only domestic institutions.
Also Read: Top 30 MBA colleges accepting CAT score
CAT 2024 Expected Marks vs Percentile Estimation
Given below is the table indicating conversion of CAT score into CAT percentile. These are slot wise CAT 2024 expected marks vs percentile arrived at by calculating number of correct attempts.
| CAT Percentile |
VARC Score |
DILR Score |
QA Score |
Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 %ile |
48 |
36 |
48 |
106 |
| 99.5 %ile |
44 |
32 |
32 |
89 |
| 99 %ile |
40 |
28 |
28 |
80 |
| 98 %ile |
36 |
25 |
24 |
71 |
| 95%ile |
30 |
19 |
19 |
57 |
| 90%ile |
25 |
16 |
15 |
49 |
| 85%ile |
21 |
13 |
12 |
40 |
| 80%ile |
19 |
11 |
10 |
36 |
| 75%ile |
17 |
10 |
9 |
31 |
| 70%ile |
15 |
9 |
8 |
29 |
Expected CAT Cut Offs 2024
Check the below table indicating expected CAT cut offs 2024 for IIMs and other to MBA colleges in India.
| B-Schools |
*CAT cut offs 2024 (percentile) |
|---|---|
| 99-100 |
|
| 99-100 |
|
| 99 |
|
| 97-98 |
|
| 97-98 |
|
| 97-98 |
|
| 95-96 |
|
| 95-96 |
|
| 95-96 |
|
| 94-95 |
|
| 94-95 |
|
| 94-95 |
|
| 94-95 |
|
| 92-94 |
|
| 92-94 |
|
| 92-94 |
|
| 92-94 |
|
| 90 |
|
| 90 |
|
| 90 |
|
| 94 |
|
| 98-99 |
|
| 95-99 |
|
| 95-99 |
|
| 95-97 |
|
| 96 |
|
| 97-99 |
|
| 90 |
|
| 91 |
|
| 85 |
|
| 86 |
|
| 80 |
|
| 85 |
|
| 80 |
|
| 80 |
|
| 80 |
|
| 70 |
|
| 70 |
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14 candidates have scored 100 percentile in CAT 2024, out of a total of 2.93 Lacs candidates. Out of 14 toppers, 1 is a woman candidate. Check below CAT 2024 result data:
Check the below table for data and statistics of CAT 2024 test takers and toppers.
Discipline
percentiles 14 - Nos
Male - 13
Engg – 13
Non-Engg – 1
Delhi 2
Haryana 1
Kerala 1
Maharashtra 5
Odisha 1
Rajasthan 1
Telangana 2
percentiles 29 -Nos.
Male - 27
Engg – 25
Non-Engg - 4
Delhi 4
Gujarat 2
Haryana 1
Karnataka 3
Kerala 1
Madhya Pradesh 1
Maharashtra 5
Odisha 1
Punjab 1
Rajasthan 3
Tamil Nadu 1
Telangana 1
Uttar Pradesh1
Uttarakhand 1
West Bengal 2
percentiles 30-Nos
Male - 29
Engg – 20
Non-Engg -10
Delhi 2
Gujarat 2
Haryana 4
Karnataka 4
Madhya Pradesh 3
Maharashtra 3
Tamil Nadu 2
Telangana 3
Uttar Pradesh 2
West Bengal 4